Perilous Waif (Alice Long Book 1)

by E. William Brown

  “It doesn’t matter,” the captain interrupted. “The problem is the yakuza may just believe the tall tales. We’ve been going back occasionally for a couple of years now, picking up loads of salvage to sell. It seemed harmless enough at the time, but now I suspect someone noticed the ID codes on the hardware and jumped to conclusions.”

  “That does sound like Mr. Ishida,” Naoko conceded. “He’s quite fond of conspiracy theories and get-rich-quick schemes.”

  “But it’s dumb,” I protested. “Why would the captain still be flying around in a tramp freighter if he was a billionaire?”

  “I could offer a hundred explanations,” Naoko replied. “Perhaps the treasure hold is sealed shut, and they’re still working on opening it. Perhaps they’re trying to fence the gold in small lots to avoid notice. Perhaps the captain simply enjoys operating a free trading vessel. Or we could invent a conspiracy theory. Perhaps the captain is secretly a spy for the Mormons, or one of the big insurance companies, and his masters insisted he remain on duty. The rest of the crew could be the same. Or perhaps they are replicants, and the originals are now living a life of luxury on some paradise world.”

  I groaned. “People really believe stuff like that? Alright, I get it. So what do we do about it, sir?”

  “For now, just keep your guard up,” the captain said. “Keep in contact with Chief West, and don’t wander off alone. Alice, can you put those enhanced senses to work keeping an eye on things? The techs tend to get careless when they’re on leave, and Naoko doesn’t have military training.”

  “Yes, sir! Of course I’ll keep an eye out.”

  “Just remember you’re not a bodyguard,” Chief West said. “If you do spot trouble call me, and let me handle it. Don’t go getting yourself into a fight if you can avoid it.”

  “I know, Chief. You’ve got a lot more firepower than I do. Only, I really want to learn more about how to help with this kind of thing.”

  He chuckled. “I know, kid. You’re a real go-getter, aren’t you? Once we’re back in hyperspace I’ll see about setting up some kind of training for you.”

  “If I’m right about the situation, it shouldn’t be hard to resolve,” the captain said. “I may need to arrange a meeting with the oyabun to clear the air, but I can do that if I have to. It’s just going to take time. Until then stay safe, and don’t start any trouble.”

  The meeting broke up after that, and I wandered back down to the dance floor. Chief Benson and his foxgirls were still there, but they looked busy. A couple of tall blonde women with angel wings had joined them at their table, and they all seemed to be half drunk and flirting with each other.

  I sighed, and did a sweep of the room. How many things could I pay attention to at once, if I really tried?

  There was Dusty in his corner booth, talking with a different shady character. A sound scrambler kept me from listening in, but that was probably just as well.

  A couple of crewmen I hadn’t met were on the dance floor, each with a local girl in his arms. I checked their IDs to make sure of that, and found myself frowning. There sure were a lot of spacers in here hooking up with locals. Did they do that on purpose?

  Yes. There was a guy over by the bar who was watching the room, pointing out targets to a little cluster of attractive young men and women. Whenever they spotted a customer who was alone he’d assign someone to go talk to them. Well, probably more than talk. They were all joking and talking smack about who was going to ‘land’ the richest spacer tonight. But then why were they ignoring me?

  I kept listening, and soon I had my answer.

  “Loli girl is still hanging around at G14,” one of the women said. “You sure you don’t want to take a shot at her, Ferka?”

  “Fuck, no,” one of the younger men said. “Have you seen the video from Takeo Station? I like my balls attached to my body, thank you very much.”

  The guy who was organizing things spoke up. “Come on, Vai, you know the rules. She didn’t sign up for the datefinder service, and we don’t mess with combat monsters unless they pay us to do it.”

  Monster?

  I bit my lip. Guess that’s what I get for listening in on private conversations. Was that what everyone really thought of me?

  Was that why I was standing here alone, while all my friends were having fun?

  I was just starting to brood when a familiar figure entered my zone of awareness. I spun and stared at him.

  “Hey, Alice,” Kavin said. “Sorry about disappearing there. Dad wanted to talk shop for a few minutes before he went back to the ship. But I’m officially off duty for the rest of the night.”

  “You came back,” I said.

  “Well, yeah. What, did you think I’d bailed on you? Not a chance.”

  I was smiling. Kavin didn’t think I was a monster. He was just like me, and he wanted to spend time with me.

  “Lucky you,” I said. “Now I don’t have to hunt you down and take revenge.”

  He laughed. “Buy you a drink?”

  “Sure. Let’s get a table, and you can tell me what it’s like being a mercenary supersoldier. It sounds kind of fun.”

  The night was still young. Maybe I’d have a new friend by morning.

  Chapter 12

  I was walking on air as I boarded the ship the next morning. Well, not literally walking on air, although it wouldn’t surprise me if I grew an enhancement like that soon. I had a network of emitters for a momentum exchange system starting to come online now, and that just might do the trick.

  Naoko was sitting in the crew lounge with a cup of tea and a sweet roll when I came in. She did a double take when she saw me.

  “My, my. I see someone had an enjoyable evening,” she said. Her lips curved into a knowing smile.

  “He kissed me!” I squealed.

  She opened her mouth, and closed it again. The amusement grew.

  “Did he, now. How was it?”

  “Amazing! My lips are still tingling. Oh, Naoko, I’ve never met anyone like him. We talked for hours. We danced half the night away, and then we rented a conference room and threw all the furniture out so he could show me a few moves. I’ve never been on a date before, but that had to be the best date ever.”

  “A few moves?” She asked.

  “Yeah. You know, sparring?” I mimed a few punches.

  “Ah. You combat types and your sparring. After an evening like that I’m surprised you stopped at a kiss.”

  I took one of the empty seats at her table, and started ordering breakfast. “I didn’t want to move too fast. I mean, I know spacers can be pretty casual about relationships, but that’s not really what I want. I think.”

  “You should certainly do what feels right for you,” she advised. “Everyone’s heart is different.”

  “Thanks. I just wish I really knew what I want. Part of me wants to take things slow, and make sure he’s really the right guy for me. But part of me…”

  I trailed off with a blush. I just couldn’t stop thinking about it, could it?

  Naoko’s chuckle pulled me out of my thoughts before I could get lost in another daydream.

  “It’s good to see you so happy, my friend. Only, I fear I must remind you that there is a risk in waiting too long. You won’t see one another often, and mercenaries find many opportunities for romance.”

  I shrugged. “So? If he meets someone really cool I’d probably like her too.”

  A bot deposited a steaming bowl of hot cereal and a nutrient shake in front of me, and silently floated away. I dug in with relish. The stuff the food synthesizer made didn’t have the artistic flair of a hand-cooked meal, but it was still pretty good.

  After a few bites I realized Naoko was giving me that amused look again.

  “What?”

  “Sometimes I forget that you aren’t human. Then you say something like that, and remind me. No jealousy over potential rivals stealing your man’s heart, then?”

  I ate for a moment, while I examined my feelings.r />
  “No? We’re both young, and we’re supposed to be experimenting and figuring out what we want, right? But it’s not like he’s going to find a girl as awesome as me anywhere. So if he’s really as smart as I think he is, he’ll come back to me.”

  “And if he has some girl with him when he does?” She pressed. “Some charmer with a winning smile and giant breasts, who has him wrapped around her finger? You did notice that he has two mothers, yes? His clan does not practice monogamy.”

  I rolled my eyes. “If he’s that easy to manipulate he’s not the guy for me. But hey, having one of those social predator types on my side for once could be pretty sweet. I’d just have to show her who’s boss first.”

  “Ah. This sounds like a group bonding instinct to me, Alice. If that did happen, who would be in charge?”

  The bot came back for my empty bowl, and dropped off a plate of pancakes and a tall glass of orange juice.

  “Whichever of us is better, of course,” I told her. “We won’t know who that is until all my mods grow in, though.”

  That seemed to surprise her.

  “Truly? I must admit to some relief, then. For a moment I feared you might be like the techs. Designed to bond with a master, and happily accept any treatment he gives you.”

  I snorted. “Mom didn’t make me a slave, Naoko. I’m not going to let anyone take advantage of me. I do kind of feel like there’s supposed be a… I don’t know, a chain of command maybe? But I’m supposed to be somewhere up at the top of it.”

  “Ah. Some sort of military hierarchy, then? That would fit with your abilities. But I apologize if I’m making you uncomfortable, Alice. I’m only trying to understand you.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m still trying to understand myself. Sometimes I really wish Mom had left me a manual, but I guess she thought she’d be here.”

  “I wish she could be, Alice. But you’ve come this far on your own, and now you have comrades to share your burdens. I have every confidence that you will come to understand yourself in time, and go on to succeed at whatever you choose to do with your life.”

  “Thanks, Naoko. Speaking of doing things with my life, what’s on our agenda today?”

  She accepted my change of subject without protest.

  “The ship lifts at noon, assuming everyone is back from leave on time. We have only a single passenger, and as our next four stops are dark colonies I doubt we shall take on any more. So you may expect a light duty schedule for several weeks.”

  “Sweet. Only, isn’t it kind of weird for a passenger to want to sit around on the ship while we make all those stops? The manifest says he’s going all the way to Markai, but he’d get there a lot faster if he just took a passenger liner.”

  “In our line of work we frequently have odd passengers, Alice. Individuals who seek to travel without leaving records of their movements, or who simply wish to disappear for a time. But in this case the explanation is not so interesting. Ginar Desh is simply a traveling bot salesman, and I assume he hopes to do business at the stops along our route.”

  “Traveling bot salesman? How does that work? Bots always have a million options, and shipping a big selection of them around would have to be expensive.”

  “Indeed. You’ll note that his cargo allotment includes a shipping container full of nuclear batteries, and fifteen hundred tons of assorted industrial feedstocks. I believe the manufacturer he represents has provided him with a design database, and authorization to fabricate orders to spec locally.”

  “Oh, I get it.”

  “I’d like you to assist me in getting him settled in, so that I’ll have a ready opportunity to introduce you as my assistant. After that I expect you shall be at loose ends for the remainder of the day. You may study or visit the techs if you like. I suppose I should also inform you that Dusty has extended a request for a few hours of your time. He claims to want help preparing some cargo for offloading at Hadrin, but I suspect this is only an excuse to get you alone. No doubt he has some scheme in mind that he believes would suit you. I can put him off if you wish.”

  “No, we kind of owe him for helping out at Hoshida. I should return the favor, as long as he doesn’t drag me into anything stupid. The captain does know about his side businesses, right?”

  Naoko gave a long-suffering sigh. “He does. I don’t understand why he tolerates it, but Dusty has been part of the crew for many years. He’s crafty enough not to get caught, and I doubt he’d involve you in anything dangerous. Just don’t allow him to be a bad influence on you, Alice.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Naoko.”

  You’d think someone who was built by the yakuza wouldn’t mind a little petty larceny now and then. Ah, well. I resolved not to tell her about anything that might upset her. But as long as the captain was okay with it, I wasn’t going to pass up any chances to make a little money on the side.

  Mr. Desh turned out to be the punctual sort, arriving right at the start of his boarding window. His little groundcar was followed across the landing field by a huge cargo hauler, which reminded me just how big fifteen hundred tons of anything is. The transporter was three lanes wide and twice as tall as the truck I’d used back on Takeo Station, not to mention a heck of a lot longer. It was kind of impressive, watching something that big float along two meters off the ground like it was weightless.

  We met him beneath the looming bulk of the ship, at the foot of a cargo ramp that led up into the cavernous space of the ship’s vehicle bays. Naoko was in her armor, so I’d changed into my spacesuit to match. Mr. Desh parked a few meters from the foot of the ramp, and got out to shake Naoko’s hand while the big transporter slowly drifted towards us.

  “Miss Sokol? Ginar Desh, of Jakarth Mechworks.”

  “Please, call me Naoko. This is my assistant, Alice Long.”

  I shook his hand. Interesting. A human brain, in a synthetic body that was designed to look like a normal human. I guess that made sense for someone who spent a lot of time wandering around Dark Space. He wouldn’t have to worry as much about life support failures or radiation leaks, but he’d still look as normal as possible to his customers.

  “Good day, Miss Long. I suppose we shall be seeing a good deal of one another. Is there space prepared for my transporter?”

  “Four thousand cubic meters of contiguous space, as specified,” Naoko replied. “Just go on up the ramp, and then straight ahead to Bay 17. You’ve got the whole bay, plus the storage and servicing area behind it.”

  Mr. Desh raised an eyebrow at that. “Your ship has vehicle bays sized for a two thousand ton cargo transporter?”

  “Cybertanks, actually. Square Deal was originally a military transport. Each vehicle bay was laid out to accommodate a battalion of heavy warbots, or a single heavy cybertank of three to four thousand tons. The maintenance bays were stripped down long ago, but the industrial power and coolant connections are still functional if you need them.”

  “Very good, Miss Sokol, very good. Yes, once the ship is underway I shall need to set up my equipment and break the transporter back down to feedstock. Please inform engineering to expect a three-megawatt power draw and a proportionate cooling load for our first day or so in hyperspace.”

  The transporter reached us, and started to float silently up the ramp. The long slab of smart matter armor barely creaked under the load.

  “That’s not a problem, sir,” Naoko said. “If you’ll follow us up we’ll help get everything squared away, and then show you to your cabin.”

  Mr. Desh nodded, and climbed back into his car. Naoko spread her arms, and rose a few cems into the air on her armor’s lift field.

  “Come along, Alice. I shall see to securing the transporter, but I’d like you to observe and learn the process.”

  “Sure thing, Naoko.” I kicked on my own suit’s lift field, and flew up the ramp after her.

  I’d never thought about securing heavy cargo items before, but of course you wouldn’t want something as massive as that cargo
transporter to start drifting around if the artificial gravity went out. Apparently there was a standard system for that kind of thing, though, because there was a set of clamps on the floor of the vehicle bay that mated perfectly with couplings around the base of the transporter.

  Naoko showed me how to work the clamps and make sure they were all secure, and pointed out the controls that told the bay which of several dozen layouts to use for each cargo item.

  “I’m surprised there’s an actual control panel,” I said. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just have a control node on the ship’s datanet?”

  “Not everyone has your facility with such things, Alice. I believe there is such a mechanism, but you would have to ask the techs how to access it. I’m adding you to the authorized user list now-”

  “Oh!” I exclaimed. “I see the online controls now. They just weren’t showing up for me because I didn’t have access. Oh, ah, sorry. You were saying?”

  Naoko smiled tolerantly. “You have access, but please do not use the system without supervision. Loose cargo can be dangerous, and Beatrice must be informed of any movements that could affect the ship’s trim. Now, let’s show Mr. Desh to his cabin.”

  He hadn’t paid for any upgrades, so we showed him to one of the standard cabins and left him to his own devices. Once the hatch was safely shut Naoko sighed, and shook her head.

  “I suppose I should have expected him to insist on remaining formal,” she said. “Ah, well. At least he isn’t a demanding passenger.”

  “Yet. He could still turn into a pain in the neck once he unpacks. Why was he calling you ‘Miss’ Sokol, though? If you’re with the captain, shouldn’t that be ‘Mrs.’?

  “We aren’t married, Alice,” she chided gently. “The custom is that an android takes the name of her owner, to show where her loyalties lie. Though my captain insists I am not property I have imprinted on him quite firmly, so I’m happy enough to be Miss Sokol. In truth, that is more courtesy than I could hope for on most colonies. Certainly it is better than being called ‘cutie’ or ‘slut’, as if I had no identity worth remembering.”